Popovych Abandons Tour

Posted On 12 Jul 2011

American team RadioShack on Tuesday announced that Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych was out of the Tour de France because of a fever. Popovych, who pulled out of the race before the start of the 158km 10th stage from Aurillac to Carmaux, joins teammates Chris Horner and Janez Brajkovic in leaving the race prematurely.

Slovenian Brajkovic (collarbone) and American Horner (severe concussion, nose fracture) suffered injuries in a crash in the first week which brought their respective campaigns to an end. RadioShack still have team leader Andreas Kloden, but the German suffered a back injury in the crash-marred ninth stage on Sunday. He rode with the team on Monday’s rest day and despite still being in pain he will start Tuesday’s stage.

A team statement said: “Yaroslav Popovych will not take the start of stage 10 in the Tour de France. Since Sunday Popovych has had a fever. “As the rest day didnt bring any improvement, the team decided not to let him start in Aurillac. The former Tour de France stage winner will undergo some extra tests today.” Popovych crashed twice in stage five but battled through the pain to continue the race.

Another team leader, Levi Leipheimer, has also crashed several times and is currently placed 36th at 7min 16sec behind French race leader Thomas Voeckler of Europcar.